Following the completion of the Indoor Hockey World Cup, the FIH has released the updated indoor hockey rankings. The indoor rankings are based on the three most recent World Cups as well as the ranking within the continental regions.

Men’s Rankings

In Berlin Austria secured their first ever World title securing not only the World Crown but the top ranking in the Men’s game. Germany, on the other hand, have seen their near miss punish them twice in slipping to second.

Iran, the first non-European medallist in Indoor World Cup history, has also shifted into the top 4, their highest ranking. There were also big rises in the rankings for Belgium (10th), Trinidad and Tobago (12th) and Croatia (24th) who rose on the back of impressive EuroHockey Championship form.

Netherlands non-appearance at the World Cup sees them drop to 8th, while Canada also experiences a similar drop to 15th and France dropped 17 places to 39th in the world. South Africa’s BlitzStoks will be happy to rise a position, however, will probably be disappointed that they have not broken into the top 10 following a less than impressive World Cup.

Women’s Rankings

The German ladies managed to make up for the slide in their Men’s side rankings as the World Champions have swapped places with the runners-up the Netherlands to take the top spot in the global rankings.

The story of the rankings was undoubtedly Switzerland who climb 12 places to 7th on the back of a good EuroHockey Championship. USA And Russia also make steady climbs in the rankings on the back of good World Cups, while Namibia is now officially the top-ranked women’s side in Africa, sitting in 11th overall while South Africa’s non-qualification sees them drop to 16th.

Canada and Scotland also are punished for missing out on the World cup and dropping to 17th and 22nd respectively, while Thailand is the biggest climbers moving up 17 places to 26th.

The next World Rankings will only be calculated after the next round of continental tournaments in 2019/2020 as we build towards the next Indoor Hockey World Cup.